Protective system for airport runway and taxiway light fixtures

ABSTRACT

A system for the protection of airport runway light fixtures and markers is disposed at or near the edge of aircraft runways, taxiway and airport signs. The system includes a thin flexible mat having an axial opening proportioned to enable placement of a runway light fixture or marker therethrough; and peripherally disposed apertures within the mat. The system further includes several anchors for the mat, each of which comprises a planar head, and means for penetration and engagement of earth upon which the mat is positioned. The penetration and engagement elements of each anchor integrally and rigidly depend from a lower surface of the planar head at a central axis. A greatest transverse cross-section of the engagement element is proportioned for complemental insertion within the peripheral apertures of the convex mat. The planar heads of the anchors each engage the mat when the engagement means have fully penetrated the earth upon which the mat is to be secured. The upper surface of the planar head of each anchor preferably includes an axially disposed nut, Alien head screw or the like proportioned for complemental engagement with the drive element of a power tool to effect rotation of the anchor into the earth.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/369,494, filed Feb. 21, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/029,923, filed Dec. 31, 2001, now U.S. Pat. No.6,527,407 B2, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.09/638,621, now abandoned, the contents of which are all incorporatedherein by reference. This application also claims the benefit ofInternational Application PCT/US02/41585, filed Dec. 26, 2002, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Present day airports, of whatever size, make use of numerous, oftenhundreds, of light fixtures for purposes of illumination of the edge ofthe airport runway, taxiway and parking areas to thereby minimize thepossibility that an aircraft will inadvertently travel off the edgethereof. Such airport light fixtures involve considerable cost, both byway of initial capital investment, accidental breakage and maintenancein that the state-of-the-art runway light fixture is designed towithstand intense vibration and high wind velocity encountered intake-off and landing operations of jet aircraft, as well as bad weather.Such fixtures must, as well, remain operable over a broad range ofenvironmental factors including heat, humidity, erosion, dust, wind,vegetation and insects. Accordingly, each runway light fixturerepresents a significant, but risk prone, capital asset of the airport.In order to protect this asset and to ensure maximum functionality,extensive use of mowing and other equipment is made to trim and limitthe growth of grass and vegetation thereabout. However, such equipmentmay itself cause damage to runway lights. In many areas, it is alsonecessary to employ plant poisons and pesticides to protect runwaylights from insects and the ingrowth of vegetation. Accordingly, themaintenance of runway lights entails not only the cost labor associatedwith continual trimming of vegetation but, as well, the potentiallyhazardous use of herbicides and pesticides to protect the light fromvegetation, insects, and other small animals which might otherwisedamage the runway lighting.

The prior art has addressed the above problem through the suggestion ofcomplicated and expensive light fixtures or light fixture protectorsand, inter alia, is represented by U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,711 (1978) toCarter, entitled Airport Light Fixture; No. 5,122,798 (1992) to Kaolian,entitled Airport Ground Light Arrangement; No. 5,669,691 (1997) toBarrow, entitled Airport Runway or Taxiway Light Fixture; and No.5,971,561 (1999) to Fitzwater, entitled Airport Field Light Protector.

All of the above solutions, while clearly useful in extending the lifeof airport runway light fixtures, provide no help in the above-describedenvironmental problems associated with extensive groundwork and othermaintenance directed to the vegetation which inevitably will try toenvelop runway light fixtures. A recognition of such limitations in theprior art is reflected in Kaolian above which suggests the use of asemi-rigid disk shaped body formed of a weather-resistant material whichcomprises an integral part of the runway fixture per se. Therein, thedisk requires excavation of earth and insertion of gravel under thedisk. In other words, in systems such as Kaolian and Fitzwater above, aprotective rigid or semi-rigid disk is essentially integrated as a partof the airport ground light unit. In such solutions, the outermost edgeor periphery of such disk-like elements are susceptible to upliftingunder the effect of jet blast, ambient wind, water, and the activity ofinsects and small animals even if the disk is positioned below groundlevel. Accordingly, none of the suggestions in the prior art whichmight, superficially, appear related to the present invention, arepractical in terms of such long-term external effects thereupon. Inaddition, it is essential that any peripheral disk, skirt, or the likeassociated a runway light be as flat as possible to minimizeinterference with, or damage to, lower blades of landscaping equipment,the use of which would remain necessary with respect to airportmaintenance beyond the periphery of any system for the protection ofairport runway light fixtures. It is further noted that the use ofgravel to suppress foliage about landing strips has given rise to itsown problems; for example, jet blast is capable of dislodging andblowing gravel about a taxiway thereby creating a hazard to otheraircraft and to personnel in the area.

It is, thereby, to be appreciated that prior art attempts to suppressthe growth of foliage and to control other factors impacting uponairport ground lights have been relatively ineffective and, as well,have proven costly in terms of manpower, maintenance and particularlythe replacement of lights and other components of such ground lightsystems when damage thereto occurs. The present invention therebyrepresents an effective alternative to such art as Kaolian andFitzwater, referenced above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This instant invention relates to a system for the protection of airportrunway light fixtures, airport signs located on grass or earth, andmarkers disposed at or near the edge of aircraft runways and taxiways.The system more particularly includes a thin flexible mat having anaxial opening proportioned to enable placement of a runway light fixtureor marker therethrough; and a plurality of peripherally disposedapertures within said mat. The system further includes a plurality ofanchors for said mat, each of which comprises a planar head, and meansfor penetration and engagement of earth upon which said mat ispositioned. Said penetration and engagement means of each anchorintegrally and rigidly depend from a lower surface of said planar headat a central axis thereof. Therein a greatest transverse cross-sectionof said engagement means is proportioned for complemental insertionwithin said peripheral apertures of the convex mat. Said planar heads ofsaid anchors each engage said mat when said engagement means have fullypenetrated the earth upon which the mal is to he secured. In a preferredembodiment, the upper surface of the planar head of each anchorcomprises an axially disposed nut, Allen head screw or the likeproportioned for complemental engagement with the drive element of apower tool to effect rotation of the anchor into the earth.

In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved system for (lie protection of airport runway lightfixtures from airfield maintenance equipment, this inclusive of aprotective mat therefore and method of efficient securement thereof tothe area surrounding such runway and taxiway light fixtures.

It is another object of the invention to provide an airport groundlighting system having improved means for the suppression of foliage andpests thereabout.

It is a further object to provide a system of the above type which willreduce mowing presently associated with runway lighting and lightingfixtures.

It is a further object to provide an airport ground light systemprotection for reduction of soil erosion in the area about the fixture.

It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a means for theprotection of airport runway light fixtures not susceptible to upliftunder the influence of jet or propeller airblast.

It is still another object to provide an improved system to enhance thevisibility of runway ground lights.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a system forthe protection of airport runway lights which will reduce the cost oflabor associated with the use of herbicides and pesticides about saidlights and will reduce risks to workers otherwise required to walk ontoor near the airfield for such tasks.

It is a yet further object to provide a system of the above type whichis fully compatible with all sizes and weights of lawn maintenanceequipment and which will pose no risk to such equipment or to anaircraft that may inadvertently travel over such a system.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a system of theabove type which will, through the use of conventional portable powertools, can be quickly installed or repositioned.

It is a further object to provide a system of the above type which isessentially immovable after it has been properly secured about a runwaylight fixture or airport sign and into the earth.

The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description ofthe Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention and claims appendedherewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIQN OP THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single unit of the present inventivesystem after the same has been fully installed.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the inventive system, showing thesalt lip thereof.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an anchoring element employed with thepresent system.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top schematic view showing potential travel paths ofedges of airport lawn mowing equipment.

FIG. 7 is a top schematic view of an elliptical embodiment of theinvention, also showing the travel paths of edges of airport mowingequipment.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the perspective view of FIG. 1, the present system isshown as it appears after the same has been fully installed about anairport runway light fixture. Therein may be seen a lighting fixture 10of a type commonly used at airports. Such fixtures depend upwardly froma rigid conduit 12 which accommodates electrical cabling from a rigidconvex concrete base 14 which is typically circular in structure andextends to periphery 16 shown in FIG. 1. Beneath the protective concretestructure 14 is earth 18 which will extend to the edge of airport runwayor taxiway 20. The inventive includes a flexible partially convex mat 22which includes an axial opening 24-proportioned to facilitate placementof the light fixture 10 therethrough.

As may be noted in the views of FIGS. 1 through 3, the mat comprises acentral convex area 26 and an outer substantially flat annular area 28.Said inner area, which covers the protective base 14 surrounding fixture10 will typically have a radius in the range of 8 to 16 inches, whileannular area 28 will exhibit a radius in a range of 16 to 32 inches. Thetotal radius of mat 22 would be about 24 inches. The elevation of convexcentral portion 26 relative to flat annular portion 28 (see FIG. 3) willtypically be in a range of 1 to 3 inches depending upon the height ofthe protective base 14 surrounding fixture 10 and its cable supportconduit 12.

As may be noted in FIG. 2, a plurality of apertures 30 are disposedabout or near the periphery of mat 22, the purpose of which is to enablepassage therethrough of a corresponding plurality of anchors 32 which(see also FIG. 4) which each include a planar head 34 and a typicallyspiral means 36 for the penetration and engagement of earth 18 uponwhich the mat 22 is to be positioned. As may be noted in FIG. 4, theengagement means is integrally and rigidly dependent from a lowersurface of the planar head 34. Accordingly, mat apertures 30 areproportioned to slidably accommodate the greatest cross-section of theanchors 32 thereby facilitating complemental insertion of the spiralelements thereof through such apertures during the process ofinstallation. This process, it is noted, is considerably facilitatedthrough the provision, upon an upper surface of planar head 34, of aprotruding element such as a hex or Alien head nut proportioned forcomplemental engagement with a drive head of a portable power tool tothereby effect rotation of such element and, thusly, of the entireanchor such that each anchor may be quickly inserted into the ground.Such insertion is also facilitated by providing a sharp tip 40 at theend of the spiral portion 36 of the anchor 32. It has been found thatinexpensive readily available power tools such as a Makita or Black andDecker power drill. Anchor 32 may be easily inserted into earth having awide range of soil types.

Through the use of an anchor consisting of a large diameter head,typically in a range of about 4 to about 8 inches, the present system,when properly installed, will secure mat 22 such that it is immovableunder any influence including water, weather, and jet blast. Thereinerosion is most difficult and vegetation is unable to grow close enoughto fixture 10 to impair the runway illumination function thereof.

Further, as may be noted with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the edges ofmowing equipment of a type typically used at airports can safely passover annular area 28 of the mat 22, this due to the minimal thickness ofthe mat which is in a range of 0.15 to 0.50 inches, but preferably 0.375inches. In general, the mat is formed of an elastomeric materialpreferably a polymeric plastic such as an EPDM polypropylene terpolymer.The weight of a mat of the above dimensions made of such material wouldbe about 28 pounds, with a density of 0.68 ounces/cu. inch. and tensilestrength of about 650 pounds. Accordingly due to the thinness, strengthand flexibility of mat 22, the present system will not interfere withthe normal operation of airport mowing equipment. By the same token,there need not be a concern that the wheels or landing gear of anaircraft, which happens to pass beyond the edge of runway or taxiway 20,will be interfered with by either mat 22 or the planar heads 34 of themat anchors 32.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is also shown a soft lip 44, thefunction of which is to contain salt which will melt snow or ice thatmay fall onto the mat.

It is to be appreciated that while the anchor shown in FIG. 4 comprisesa spiral structure having a diameter of about two inches and a length ofabout one foot, that other securement means may be employed within thescope of the present invention as long as a planar head 34 is employed,this for the reasons set forth above.

In an alternate embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 7, there maybe provided an elliptical mat 122 in lieu of the circular mat 22 abovedescribed. Typical dimensions thereof would be about 48 inches by 84inches with a weight of about 50 pounds. Such an elliptical matstructure may be advantageously employed in a number of applicationwhere, for example, ground surface, visibility, or aestheticconsiderations may dictate. For example, extending the length, in even asingle axis, of the mat portion of the present system, will enhance easeof mowing and visibility of light fixture 10 from the aircraft runway20, even if vegetation or foliage at the edge of the runway is nottrimmed for a considerable period of time. Also, resistance to erosionof the earth surrounding lighting fixtures is increased through the useof the elliptical structure of mat 122. Such a structure, as is alsonoted in FIG. 7, is completely compatible with use with lawn mowingequipment and, in certain respects, is more suitable for such use inthat the turning radii associated with mower travel along the edge ofmat 122 is much than is the case of the turning radii associated withmower travel along or upon the periphery of circular mat 22. In FIGS. 5to 7, the path of travel of the edge of the moving equipment isindicated by numbers 42 and 142.

It is further noted that mat 22 or 122 may be provided with holes forthe accommodation of so-called snow poles 48 (set: FIG. 1) which arccommonly used at airports in colder climates during much of the year.

With reference to FIG. 8, there is shown a further embodiment of theinvention in which a mat 100 is entirely flat or co-planar, that is,does not include a convex axial portion. This embodiment is applicablewhere a runway light fixture 110 does not utilize a convex support orbase. In said embodiment, slits 114 in the mat are used in lieu of axialopening 24 of mat 22, described above.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinstant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may beembodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described andthat, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the formand arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideasor principles of this invention as set forth in the claims appendedherewith.

1. A system for the protection of airport runway lighting fixtures, thesystem comprising: (a) a flexible convex mat including an axial openingproportioned to enable placement of a runway light fixture therethrough,and a plurality of peripherally located apertures; (b) a plurality ofanchors for said mat, each of said anchors comprising a planar head, andmeans for penetration and engagement of earth upon which said mat is tobe positioned, said penetration and engagement means integrally andrigidly depend from a lower surface of said planar head at a center axisthereof, in which a greatest transverse cross-section of saidpenetration means is proportioned for complemental insertion throughsaid peripheral apertures of said mat, whereby said heads of saidanchors each engage said mat when said penetration means have fullypenetrated the earth upon which said mat is to be secured.
 2. The systemas recited in claim 1, in which an upper surface of said planar head ofsaid anchor comprises an axially disposed element proportioned forcomplemental engagement with a drive head of a power tool to therebyeffect rotation of said anchor into the earth.
 3. The system as recitedin claim 2, in which said penetration means of said anchor comprises anelongate spiral having a pointed tip thereof.
 4. The system as recitedin claim 3, in which said spiral of said anchor comprises a diameter ofabout two inches and a length of about one-foot.
 5. The system asrecited in claim 2, in which said planar head of said anchor defines acircle having a diameter in a range of about four to about eight inches.6. The system as recited in claim 2, in which said mat defines a circle.7. The system as recited in claim 2, in which said convex mat defines anellipse.
 8. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said matcomprises a convex inner region and an integral outer annular regionwhich is substantially flat.
 9. The system as recited in claim 2, inwhich said mat includes therein holes for the accommodation of snowpoles.
 10. The system as recited in claim 8, in which an upper surfaceof said planar head of said anchor comprises an axially disposed elementproportioned for complemental engagement with a drive means of a powertool to effect rotation of said anchor into the earth.
 11. The system asrecited in claim 10, in which said penetration means of said anchorcomprises an elongate spiral having a pointed tip thereof,
 12. Thesystem as recited in claim 1, in which said planar head defines a circlehaving a diameter in a range of about 4 to about 8 inches.
 13. Thesystem as recited in claim 2, in which said mat comprises an innerconvex region and an integral annular substantially flat outer region.14. The system as recited in claim 8, in which an upper surface of saidplanar head of said anchor comprises an axially disposed elementproportioned for complemental engagement with a drive means of powertool.
 15. The system as recited in claim 1, in which said mat comprisesa thickness of between about 0.15 and about 0.50 inches.
 16. The systemas recited in claim 15, in which said planar head defines a circlehaving a diameter in range of about 4 to about 8 inches.
 17. The systemas recited in claim 16, in which a radius of said mat comprises a radiusin a range of about 18 to about 40 inches.
 18. The system as recited inclaim 2 in which said mat comprises a convex portion about said axialopening thereof.
 19. The system as recited in claim 18, in which avertical elevation of said convex portion of said mat comprises a rangeof between about one and about three inches above the earth.
 20. Thesystem as recited in claim 18, in which a vertical elevation of said matdefines a rectangle.